Photocontrol device for grade mounted light fixture
AssigneeHubbell Incorporated
InventorHonesto D. Quiogue
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A light fixture has a light-transparent cover at substantially grade level and a photocontrol device with a self-flushing outer surface for preventing accumulation of opaque material thereon. The light fixture is adapted to be positioned within a recess in the graded environment and includes a housing which encloses a lamp electrically connected to the photocontrol device. The self-flushing outer surface of the photocontrol device discourages the build-up of opaque material so that the photocontrol device can reliably detect changes in the ambient light conditions outside the light fixture and operate the lamp in response to the detected changes.
Claims23
A light fixture positionable in a recess in a graded environment, the combination comprising:
- a housing, located in the recess, having an outer top surface located substantially at grade level and including laterally adjacent, parallel first and second apertures in said outer top surface;
- a light-transparent lens coupled to said housing in said first aperture, said lens having an upper outside surface;
- a lamp mounted within said housing for directing light upwardly through said lens;
- and
- a photocontrol device operatively connected to said lamp for operating said lamp in response to changes in ambient light conditions outside the light fixture, said photocontrol device including
- a low profile, light-transparent member coupled to said housing in said second aperture, said member having a convex, upwardly directed outer surface including self-flushing means for preventing accumulation of opaque material thereon, said outer surface of said light-transparent member being generally flush with said outside surface of said lens, and
- a photosensitive switch coupled to said housing for receiving ambient light passing through said light-transparent member and having means for electrically connecting said switch to said lamp.
A light fixture positionable in a recess in a graded environment, the combination comprising:
- a housing, located in the recess, having an outer top surface located substantially at grade level and including first and second apertures;
- a light-transparent lens coupled to said housing in said first aperture;
- a lamp mounted within said housing for directing light through said lens;
- and
- a photocontrol device operatively connected to said lamp for operating said lamp in response to changes in ambient light conditions outside the light fixture, said photocontrol device including
- a light-transparent member coupled to said housing in said second aperture, said member having an outer surface including self-flushing means for preventing accumulation of opaque material thereon,
- a photosensitive switch coupled to said housing for receiving ambient light passing through said light-transparent member and having means for electrically connecting said switch to said lamp, said photosensitive switch including a threaded stem threaded into said second aperture of said housing, and
- seal means for sealing said photosensitive switch with respect to said housing, said seal means having a nut threadable on said threaded stem and an O-ring positionable around said threaded stem, said O-ring, being compressed against said housing by said nut threaded along said threaded stem.
A light fixture positionable in a recess in a graded environment, the combination comprising:
- a housing, located in the recess, having an outer top surface located substantially at grade level and including first and second apertures;
- a light-transparent lens coupled to said housing in said first aperture;
- a lamp mounted within the housing for directing light through said lens;
- and
- a photocontrol device operatively connected to said lamp for operating said lamp in response to changes in ambient light conditions outside the light fixture, said photocontrol device including
- a light-transparent member coupled to said housing in said second aperture, said member having an upper portion extending over said second aperture with a convex outer surface including self-flushing means for preventing accumulation of opaque material thereon and having a post depending from said upper portion and extending into said second aperture, and
- a photosensitive switch coupled to said housing for receiving ambient light passing through said light-transparent member and having means for electrically connecting said switch to said lamp.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.